Duraclean Journal of Marketing, Management and Technical Topics

• Prompt Water Removal is a Major Key to Limiting Damage


• Air Movers Start the Flow of the Drying Process


• Dehumidifiers' Use in Water Damage is All "Relative" - Part I


• Dehumidifiers' Use in Water Damage is All "Relative" - Part II


• How Much Equipment to Ensure Timely Drying? – Part I


• How Much Equipment to Ensure Timely Drying? – Part II


• Why Use Anti-microbials?


• Specialty Service Subcontracting - Part I


• Specialty Service Subcontracting - Part II


• Specialty Service Subcontracting - Part III


• Wall Interior Drying - Part I


• Wall Interior Drying - Part II


• Wall Interior Drying - Part III


• Hardwood Floor Drying - Part I


• Hardwood Floor Drying - Part II

To access these go to the "Downloads" section and then to the "Restoration News Publications" link. From there you can view all of the bulletins. You can also access the directly through this link: http://www.duracleanfranchise.com/downloads/restoration.htm.

The bulletins are in two different formats. One is in"Microsoft Publisher" format. If you have this software on your computer then each bulletin has a "Restoration News" banner at the top. Otherwise you can use the more common "Word" versions of the bulletins.

Restoration News Bulletin No. 1 - Microsoft "Publisher" format

Restoration News Bulletin No. 1 - "Word" format

Either format will allow you to personalize your contact information at the end of each bulletin which now says:

With your personalized file(s) you can print out exactly how many bulletins you will need and when you need them! A hard copy of the first bulletin in "Publisher" format is enclosed with the March, 2009 statement mailings.

Following is the text for the first bulletin as an example.

Prompt Water Removal is a Major Key to Limiting Damage

Most Common Causes of Water Damage
Often when you see water damage situations on the television news they are caused by disasters of major proportions. Hurricanes and river floods are two sources that immediately come to mind. Did you know, however, that water damage to structures (buildings) and their contents (items not part of the actual structures) is most often caused by leaking appliances, frozen pipes, sewage backups and excessive rainfall?! It's a fact that water damage can strike anyone at any time.

Timely Water Removal Limits Secondary Damage
A major key to limiting property damage is to remove the water. This sounds simple, doesn't it? Since the water damage has already occurred and, in many cases, has receded leaving affected surfaces wet, many of the "victims" assume that they can take their time in getting the structure dried by a restoration firm. Worse yet they may either try to do the work themselves or not do anything at all letting nature dry out the structure and contents instead. What is really wrong with taking these approaches?

When water has made significant contact with the structure and contents, failure to dry everything in a timely and proper manner causes additional damage called secondary damage. The water exposure can lead to the growth of mold, mildew and other pathogens which can seriously affect your health. To prevent secondary damage and protect your health a certified, knowledgeable restoration firm with customized equipment and solutions designed especially for water damage restoration should be utilized.

The cost of losses related to secondary damage can escalate from possibly hundreds of dollars to correct the original water exposure to thousands of dollars where drying alone will not solve the problem and replacement is now in order to satisfy the claim. Historically, these kind of situations happen when the family is on vacation and the structure is left unattended for weeks at a time. Secondary damage can easily occur starting within minutes of the original exposure! Let's look at a time line of what can happen when the damage is allowed to go untreated.

Time-related Water Damage Contamination Effects
Within minutes water can cause the spreading of contamination which can lead to typhoid, Legionnaire's Disease, fecal strep, salmonella, gastrointestinal diseases and systemic fungal infections. Furniture can permanently stain wet carpet. Moisture sensitive surfaces such as books and paper can swell and disfigure.

Within hours cross contamination (contact) of wet clothing with other clothing can cause transfer of dye colors. Think of what happens when new, unwashed jeans are wet and then make contact with another fabric surface: an unwanted blue area that is permanently stained! Furniture finishes can discolor and wooden legs and framework start to swell.

Within days doors, drawers and drywall may start to swell, buckle and delaminate. Particle board subflooring can warp, buckle and delaminate as well. Furniture legs continue to swell and can lead to cracking of the wood. Wallpaper can peel and ceilings warp. Mold and mildew can start to grow within 48 hours of the original damage, especially in wall interiors that have insulation which acts like a sponge. (Absorbed water can travel several feet up the insulation!) A common related growth is grayish/green penicillium mold. Areas left unattended for 9 days or longer can produce greenish/black aspergillus mold which is even more virulent and a greater health hazard. Dyes in Oriental rugs can run permanently discoloring the rugs.

Within weeks mold and mildew can digest plaster, drywall, paneling, adhesives, ceiling tile and organic insulation. Electronic equipment may become unsalvageable. Hardwood floors may buckle, plywood delaminates and particle board dissolve. Tackless strip which is used to secure stretch-in carpet, the most common type of residential installation, can become weak, soggy and rotten while the tacks in the strips become corroded. Alkaline in concrete subflooring can wick up due to water exposure, attack the overlying tile and linoleum including their adhesives and loosen them up.

How Specifically is Drying Accomplished?
There is a lot more to drying a water damaged structure and its contents than just extracting it with a wet vacuum type unit. Future Duraclean Restoration Network News bulletins will explain exactly what equipment and solutions are used and how their employment maximizes drying results to prevent secondary damage and related health problems.

NOTE: Here is where you would insert your personalization for the bulletin such as:

Labels: Bulletins, Marketing, Restoration, Water Damage Restoration